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Join us as we get to know the business, the team, and the industry through candid, fireside-style chats packed with insights, advice, and a few laughs along the way. Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, this series is designed to inform, entertain, and give you a fresh perspective on the recruitment landscape.
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00:00:04:27 - 00:00:35:26
Chris
Welcome back to recruitment unplugged inside responsive personnel. It's the end of 2025. So we're going to have a look back at the year. We're going to look forward to 2026. And I've got a right motley crew here that we're going to chat and find out more details. Stay tuned.
00:00:35:29 - 00:01:07:00
Chris
See.
00:01:07:02 - 00:01:18:10
Chris
So welcome back to recruitment unplugged inside responsive personnel. And we really are going inside responsive personnel. We are Danny Kimber, founder and managing director. Welcome back mate. It's been a while.
00:01:18:14 - 00:01:18:29
Danny
It's been a while.
00:01:19:03 - 00:01:21:00
Chris
Yeah. You've managed to escape it yet?
00:01:21:08 - 00:01:23:17
Danny
I thought I'd better come and keep these two and check for a little bit.
00:01:23:20 - 00:01:24:05
Chris
Thank you.
00:01:24:06 - 00:01:26:05
Danny
So, yeah.
00:01:26:07 - 00:01:32:08
Chris
I do. I do feel I should thank you for that. You know, the trouble. So. Yeah, if you've kept it safe on.
00:01:32:11 - 00:01:34:28
Unknown
Well, yeah.
00:01:35:01 - 00:01:37:20
Chris
Kimberly Bird, recruitment consultant. Welcome back.
00:01:37:26 - 00:01:38:22
Unknown
Thank you very much.
00:01:38:24 - 00:01:39:06
Chris
So I.
00:01:39:06 - 00:01:40:08
Kimberly
Know back again.
00:01:40:10 - 00:01:41:19
Chris
But safety in numbers they.
00:01:41:21 - 00:01:43:11
Kimberly
Time. Yeah they say though.
00:01:43:14 - 00:01:56:08
Chris
Well yeah. We put you next to the UN's most unsafe. And welcome back guy. Hazel gets out the. Let me get this right. Payroll and compliance executive hasn't changed.
00:01:56:12 - 00:01:56:25
Hazel
Yeah I know.
00:01:56:25 - 00:01:57:27
Chris
It's just been a while since you've.
00:01:57:27 - 00:01:59:21
Unknown
Been. Well, yeah.
00:01:59:23 - 00:02:01:06
Hazel
It has. I've managed to hide.
00:02:01:06 - 00:02:02:12
Unknown
Under the requirements. Great.
00:02:02:16 - 00:02:05:26
Chris
We nearly got got Hazel on last episode, but you got out of it.
00:02:05:27 - 00:02:09:18
Hazel
Yeah, it was payroll day, so that was it.
00:02:09:20 - 00:02:12:09
Chris
Didn't you have something to do with the date we picked as well, I'm sure.
00:02:12:10 - 00:02:14:22
Unknown
Yeah, yeah.
00:02:14:27 - 00:02:32:20
Chris
Clever move, clever move. But it's great to be back and and, we are here. We try not to date these episodes normally, but it is December. We're getting towards that festive period, which I know we touched on last episode. So the festive employment trend, what you call it peak season.
00:02:32:21 - 00:02:34:03
Kimberly
Peak season. Yeah.
00:02:34:06 - 00:02:35:09
Chris
Is it going well? Yeah.
00:02:35:09 - 00:02:40:10
Kimberly
It's going well. Yeah. Got clients are getting busy. Very busy of it was Christmas period.
00:02:40:13 - 00:02:48:09
Chris
So yeah that's good to hear. Not just from your perspective because that means the countries industries are still you know they needed to start off.
00:02:48:09 - 00:02:48:28
Unknown
So yeah.
00:02:49:00 - 00:03:09:11
Danny
Massively as we don't probably see a massive peak from what we did probably ten years ago, it's a little bit more consistent. But then you do get three piles that are picking up for various clients. They get busy this time of year. So we've got clients in Swindon and they've, Basingstoke that are all third party logistic providers.
00:03:09:11 - 00:03:30:07
Danny
So they've got busy probably the last six weeks. I'm probably pick up next week as well. So last minute orders will come in there, increase our staff. We've got another one that's just come back on board. Starts again tomorrow. So last minute mad rush. More products coming in. Need to be unloaded, put in the warehouse and then pick them straight back out for delivery.
00:03:30:09 - 00:03:35:02
Danny
So yeah, for us, it'll be nonstop now through till Christmas Eve.
00:03:35:04 - 00:03:36:03
Kimberly
Sound after.
00:03:36:05 - 00:03:37:15
Unknown
Yeah. Yes. Yeah.
00:03:37:19 - 00:03:38:15
Danny
We're. I've kind of. It's back.
00:03:38:15 - 00:03:39:07
Kimberly
Yeah. I'm still.
00:03:39:08 - 00:03:40:03
Hazel
Oh yeah.
00:03:40:06 - 00:03:44:16
Chris
Of course. Yeah. Yeah. Because the January sales the handbook stuff.
00:03:44:17 - 00:03:47:04
Danny
Yeah. If not Christmas Day. Yeah. Evening.
00:03:47:06 - 00:03:48:28
Chris
It's really online stuff.
00:03:48:28 - 00:03:59:02
Danny
Online stuff will go on probably about 4 or 5:00. And then we'll be back on the phones, probably from home on Boxing Day, but still be managing clients, meeting expectations.
00:03:59:02 - 00:04:01:18
Chris
Ordering at that time. I'm in a coma by that point.
00:04:01:21 - 00:04:03:00
Unknown
Oh, you know.
00:04:03:02 - 00:04:05:04
Chris
Whether it's a food coma because I.
00:04:05:06 - 00:04:05:27
Unknown
Drink, so I'm.
00:04:05:27 - 00:04:09:15
Chris
Just exhausted from cooking. There might be an alcohol.
00:04:09:20 - 00:04:12:16
Unknown
Yeah, maybe the best.
00:04:12:18 - 00:04:14:05
Chris
But I'm like, I'm done.
00:04:14:07 - 00:04:14:28
Unknown
Yeah, I think.
00:04:15:05 - 00:04:29:06
Danny
It's one of them now. I think that I think the high streets is busy. It was. So it's all now online. And if you want to get those bargains been, I don't personally don't think they're much of a bargain. I think you know increase rate before and then drop them a little bit back to normal.
00:04:29:06 - 00:04:30:09
Chris
You might be right, but.
00:04:30:09 - 00:04:41:12
Danny
It's one of those things that yeah, it keeps us busy and we'd be busy three to mid probably February now. Strange way because the January sales seem to go on for 6 or 7 weeks, so there's no.
00:04:41:12 - 00:04:44:01
Chris
Real unless you DFS or furniture stores.
00:04:44:01 - 00:04:49:13
Unknown
That's just yeah.
00:04:49:15 - 00:05:02:06
Chris
I always swear every year that I'm going to get disciplined and get my Christmas presents early because of the Black Friday sales and all of that. And then I never do know. I get the emails that go last day, I'm like, oh heck, I haven't done anything.
00:05:02:09 - 00:05:05:03
Kimberly
Yeah, it continues for so long now, doesn't it? It does. Starts like a month.
00:05:05:03 - 00:05:05:24
Chris
Yeah. It's not black.
00:05:05:24 - 00:05:06:13
Kimberly
Friday.
00:05:06:13 - 00:05:12:04
Danny
It's like month and then. Yeah, just good. End of October and kind of like last weekend.
00:05:12:09 - 00:05:16:28
Chris
Yeah. Which does again, draw up my cynicism on your comment about, you know, other prices. Really.
00:05:16:28 - 00:05:17:10
Unknown
Yeah.
00:05:17:12 - 00:05:19:01
Danny
No, they just drop a little thing.
00:05:19:01 - 00:05:21:11
Kimberly
Yeah. They put them up. Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:21:13 - 00:05:23:13
Danny
Yeah. Yeah. Because it's normal.
00:05:23:13 - 00:05:27:09
Chris
Price. It used to be that they had to be at that higher price for yeah.
00:05:27:10 - 00:05:29:12
Kimberly
So many times and it's not. Yeah.
00:05:29:12 - 00:05:33:19
Chris
Yeah I assume that's still there. And I haven't got the time to go and check. No no no.
00:05:33:20 - 00:05:42:00
Danny
And I don't think I, I know a lot of people used to wait for Black Friday and then spend a fortune. Yeah. But I don't think anyone that I really know this period.
00:05:42:03 - 00:05:42:20
Unknown
No.
00:05:42:22 - 00:05:43:04
Chris
No.
00:05:43:06 - 00:05:44:23
Danny
Take advantage of it in a strange way.
00:05:44:25 - 00:05:52:06
Hazel
Right. A couple of years ago, I go wait until I buy a new house or something. Yeah, yeah, but it's just like, right now. So you just do TVs.
00:05:52:06 - 00:05:53:14
Kimberly
With the big ones on. They're just like.
00:05:53:15 - 00:06:10:29
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, okay. Yeah. I didn't do much. Probably. No, no, you I get to sweep every four I've got. You like oh my god. Yeah yeah. It's going to be great.
00:06:11:02 - 00:06:20:21
Chris
I love the, I don't even know whether it's true over in America where you see the images of them, like queuing up for the shops to open from Black Friday, and then it's like mad fights.
00:06:20:25 - 00:06:22:28
Kimberly
Yeah. Yeah, it was like that a couple of years ago. I wasn't it.
00:06:22:29 - 00:06:24:15
Chris
Was it really? Yeah. So they still do it.
00:06:24:17 - 00:06:27:14
Kimberly
I don't know if they did this if you haven't had much of it.
00:06:27:17 - 00:06:32:21
Danny
Know I was in the States on Black Friday. Oh well yeah. And that was there was some queues at Apple JB.
00:06:32:29 - 00:06:33:22
Unknown
Oh okay. A few want.
00:06:33:22 - 00:06:36:03
Danny
Those Marshalls there was a few queues forming.
00:06:36:06 - 00:06:36:19
Chris
Really.
00:06:36:19 - 00:06:53:03
Danny
Black Friday over there. But yeah like you really used to see Kieran's getting a discount Italian stuff like that. But I think if you know what you're going for, I think we do keep an eye on it but. Yeah I think long gone to the like the at that prices in a strange way I think used to get everyone.
00:06:53:03 - 00:07:00:19
Chris
In a day is an interesting one. Now I see that our local outlet center has just been bought. Yeah. One Mike asked about Mike.
00:07:00:19 - 00:07:01:19
Danny
Ashley.
00:07:01:22 - 00:07:03:27
Chris
Ashley. Yes. Or I said Ashley. No, that's Rick.
00:07:04:04 - 00:07:05:13
Unknown
00:07:05:16 - 00:07:06:18
Hazel
That'll be weird for that.
00:07:06:18 - 00:07:08:28
Unknown
Yeah. Cool. Yeah.
00:07:09:00 - 00:07:19:29
Chris
Mike Ashley and his crew, and that's. And they doing a lot of that because they're seeing that whilst the high street suffering, the outlet centers are still doing well. Yeah. Because people get bored with the online shopping you don't get.
00:07:19:29 - 00:07:20:21
Kimberly
Yeah.
00:07:20:23 - 00:07:22:01
Chris
Touch and feel it do you.
00:07:22:03 - 00:07:35:13
Danny
And I think even now like even clothing sizes change from brand to brand. Oh what do you think you will happen when you got them. Send it back and everything else? I just think it's just one of those things that people still want to go and touch it, see it, feel it. Yeah, probably try it.
00:07:35:13 - 00:07:41:29
Chris
On. Well, I love, I probably shouldn't name brands, but I love super dry their sizes.
00:07:42:05 - 00:07:43:10
Unknown
Yeah.
00:07:43:13 - 00:07:46:07
Chris
Joking aside, they are definitely one size smaller.
00:07:46:13 - 00:07:47:05
Unknown
Yeah.
00:07:47:07 - 00:07:52:15
Chris
And so you've got to go that bit higher, but I don't know how consistent that is. So I'm always like, I've got to go in and try it.
00:07:52:15 - 00:07:52:25
Unknown
Yeah.
00:07:52:25 - 00:07:57:26
Hazel
Yeah I'm always trying. Yeah, yeah I think with women clothes as well. There's a so.
00:07:57:28 - 00:07:58:24
Kimberly
There's so different.
00:07:58:24 - 00:08:01:25
Hazel
Yeah. So fast. You just, you don't know until you try it out.
00:08:01:27 - 00:08:03:01
Chris
I'm less picky with my.
00:08:03:01 - 00:08:05:00
Unknown
Women.
00:08:05:03 - 00:08:08:25
Chris
Because there's only once a week on.
00:08:08:28 - 00:08:09:25
Unknown
Oh.
00:08:09:27 - 00:08:10:29
Chris
That's not true. By the.
00:08:10:29 - 00:08:22:07
Unknown
Way. Yeah, I've seen the one on Friday. I was. Krystal comes in the bubble. Christ, I know that was crystals on.
00:08:22:07 - 00:08:23:12
Chris
For, Thursday.
00:08:23:12 - 00:08:25:22
Unknown
Crystal on Friday. Yeah, that's that's me.
00:08:25:23 - 00:08:44:24
Chris
Exactly. So that gives us these these peak seasons as you, as you call them. It's great to hear that it's still happening. Interesting your point there, though, that you say there's there's a bit more consistency over the year. Yeah. As, as the, the owner of the business overseeing everything. That's got to be quite good in a way.
00:08:44:27 - 00:08:45:07
Unknown
Yeah.
00:08:45:07 - 00:09:02:06
Danny
It used to be nice seeing a peak. And you knew you'd probably ramp up and profit would be high, but at the same time, running a business, having the consistency for a whole year makes it a lot easier to plan. And we know that with the stuff that we've got, we can manage it with those workloads.
00:09:02:12 - 00:09:20:29
Danny
Where in the past you kind of thinking, well, do we need to bring someone else in if we're going to put another 50 or 60 tenant today onto it, and client's going to be a bit more demanding and time constraints involved. But we've been we've probably do go from October through to the end of January and see a slight increase, but not anywhere near what you've used to do from there.
00:09:20:29 - 00:09:23:21
Danny
And I think that comes down to better planning. Some clients as well.
00:09:23:27 - 00:09:25:00
Unknown
Yeah.
00:09:25:02 - 00:09:45:08
Danny
I think you do see a lot of clients now that will stockpile stock and even vans. So when you're linked to delivery, you probably struggle to hire a van from November onwards in Swindon. Really like Royal Mail. And a lot of parcel companies will stockpile vans and have them 3 or 4 months in advance, because if you wait to the last minute, you can't get deliveries out.
00:09:45:15 - 00:09:55:00
Danny
So there's a lot more planning involved. And I think our conversations probably start in August, September. So the back end of the year with clients now.
00:09:55:03 - 00:10:11:06
Chris
So that's the piece of advice I mean, I'm looking at probably at both of you. There is the be organized be. But you guys I know you're able to react. You're definitely responsive person how you know it's there. However you know your tip is plan as much as possible.
00:10:11:06 - 00:10:11:24
Unknown
Yeah.
00:10:11:26 - 00:10:27:08
Danny
Yeah. And you do I think a lot of clients rates have stayed fairly similar as well, I think before, because they knew there was going to be a peak, clients would ramp up their rates as well for pay rates to candidates because they wanted to make sure they were getting enough bodies through the door to fulfill the orders, get it out.
00:10:27:08 - 00:10:48:06
Danny
But I think now, one example years ago with a driving company for a supermarket with enough name your price to for me driver for the day. Really? Where now? They're fairly consistent throughout the course of the year, so that that demand's not there. Otherwise it was just getting a bit stupid at times. Probably going back five, six years ago.
00:10:48:09 - 00:10:54:09
Chris
Presumably I know we're talking about, like, the picking and packing and the delivery, which is a fairly obvious one for this time of year.
00:10:54:09 - 00:10:55:29
Unknown
Yeah, yeah.
00:10:56:02 - 00:11:01:06
Chris
You guys are very high in the hospitality side of things. Is there a lot of that goes on at this time of year?
00:11:01:07 - 00:11:12:07
Kimberly
Yeah. So obviously for example you've got Boxing Day news, news New Year's Eve day and it wasn't good news. Easy, easy. Yeah. New year's Eve and New Year's Day. Yes. This game is on throughout that period as well of course.
00:11:12:07 - 00:11:26:10
Danny
So then you will see the crowds probably increase. Yeah, that Christmas period. Get out of the house and do something. So we've seen even requirement of numbers that we need to. Yeah the football for Boxing Day and for new Eve increase as well because they're expecting a higher.
00:11:26:10 - 00:11:27:16
Chris
Footfall as well. Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:27:17 - 00:11:37:18
Danny
So and we see that with big games at Swindon as well. Yeah. When there's a local derby or that last weekend with Bolton they brought a few people down. So it just.
00:11:37:18 - 00:11:39:04
Chris
I was in the FA Cup. When you say.
00:11:39:04 - 00:11:39:18
Danny
Cup. Yeah.
00:11:39:19 - 00:11:40:29
Chris
Yeah for me as well.
00:11:41:03 - 00:12:00:20
Danny
Yeah. But even that you can see from ticket sales and I think the crowd was close to 10,000 I think averaging 7000. So all of a sudden they're thinking what, how much more food do we need? How much more staff do we need. Stewards. Everything. So yeah, you've got to kind of look at it. Okay. House, in order to have a nicer.
00:12:00:22 - 00:12:14:24
Chris
And therefore from a candidates perspective, is that it's advised that people get their names on your books and things like that, because you might, even at the 11th hour, be suddenly reaching out to, to people.
00:12:14:27 - 00:12:18:19
Kimberly
Yeah. So we've pre plans are ready for the next couple of weeks. We've got people set up ready to go.
00:12:18:20 - 00:12:19:04
Chris
Wow.
00:12:19:05 - 00:12:22:23
Danny
So then you have an availability list of people that are ready to go for.
00:12:22:23 - 00:12:24:01
Kimberly
Extra.
00:12:24:03 - 00:12:40:24
Danny
Notice. Kim's going to check in with the candidates, call an hour before to make sure they're on their way. Yeah. Any problems? Transport obviously is a bit reduced for public transport on Boxing Day, so thinking ahead of that as well. Yeah. If you do use public transport how are you going to get there. Because Oxford Stadium's not central.
00:12:40:24 - 00:12:56:03
Danny
Central. It's a bit of a journey outside of it from there. So Kim will have probably 3 or 4 people on standby just in case there's a new show or something happens that we need to that we need to look at, oh, if there's a surge last minute on tickets that need, you think you need an extra pair of hand somewhere.
00:12:56:11 - 00:13:00:12
Danny
So yeah, it'll be nonstop again. So Christmas period.
00:13:00:13 - 00:13:02:09
Unknown
It doesn't stop. No it doesn't.
00:13:02:12 - 00:13:21:08
Chris
It was just thinking that there is a rest there guys. Is it. And I mean from from your side, Hazel. I mean, before I come onto the payroll, which I wanted to sort of get an understanding for the the peak angle on that. Yeah. But compliance wise you've got to have all of that in order well, in advance for people that may or may not end up working.
00:13:21:09 - 00:13:40:19
Hazel
Yeah. So Kimberley. Well, I would say be on top of it. She's got I will then if needs be do a video call to check that it's worst case scenario committee will check them on site. So we're always compliant and make sure everyone's got the right to work before they step through the door.
00:13:40:22 - 00:13:42:01
Unknown
Wow. Yeah.
00:13:42:03 - 00:13:48:04
Chris
And then so my my point I started with the payroll side is that. Yeah. You get those peak.
00:13:48:07 - 00:14:02:24
Hazel
Oh yeah. Yeah. So over Christmas and New Year we have shorter payroll windows. So instead of a five day week it would be like a three day week. So I need to get payroll uploaded. Check. Submit it. And then the state's paid all in three days.
00:14:02:27 - 00:14:03:21
Chris
Wow.
00:14:03:23 - 00:14:07:10
Hazel
So yeah, it's it's a tough time, but we get through it. Yeah. You can.
00:14:07:12 - 00:14:08:03
Unknown
Get to.
00:14:08:03 - 00:14:10:01
Danny
Payroll within a short time.
00:14:10:02 - 00:14:10:27
Hazel
Yeah.
00:14:11:00 - 00:14:20:09
Danny
So we run a payroll for anyone that works next week. We're run on the 21st. Okay. And then paragraph another one, another one naming of Christmas Eve as well.
00:14:20:12 - 00:14:21:15
Chris
Yeah. Yeah. Because that's that's.
00:14:21:16 - 00:14:22:19
Danny
Just the way.
00:14:22:22 - 00:14:23:00
Chris
Stuff.
00:14:23:04 - 00:14:23:18
Danny
It'll be.
00:14:23:22 - 00:14:24:06
Unknown
Yeah.
00:14:24:11 - 00:14:45:16
Danny
But candidates don't notice any different. In a strange way. It's a little bit more stress for Hazel with clients. And if they've shut down and worked on the Friday they're not open again going into Christmas week. So but again, that's probably been planned since. Yeah, September, October time that recalls regular communication out to clients. And this is going to be the deadline and this is going to be the cut off.
00:14:45:18 - 00:14:50:04
Danny
Unless it's just that relationship building that we have to do sooner rather than later.
00:14:50:06 - 00:14:54:09
Chris
And that clearly has come from the experience years from you guys.
00:14:54:10 - 00:15:08:12
Hazel
Yeah. I would say I have conversations with clients, like Danny said, from the relationship out in, and I'll say to them, look, this is my cut off. Is that going to work for you? How do we go around it? And we just build a plan together.
00:15:08:14 - 00:15:27:29
Chris
That's fair. And. Yeah, learn as you go. What was a bit fraught, what can be done better, and all of that sort of thing. We never stop learning, do we? In reality, highlight 2025. And maybe from a business on a personal one.
00:15:28:01 - 00:15:33:25
Danny
I've had to good personal trips. I was lucky enough to go to the golf in August. There in April.
00:15:33:25 - 00:15:35:20
Chris
Oh, yeah, I forgot that was this year.
00:15:35:21 - 00:15:50:12
Danny
Yeah, that was probably the highlights of my life in, in a strange way. Yeah. 4 or 5 days of Augusta watching the Masters, watching where we went over there. I had a trip last week to Vegas that was good, watching myself over there as well.
00:15:50:13 - 00:16:09:04
Chris
That looked incredible. I've seen the pictures of that. I was saying to you before we went on there. Is that Vegas is one of those ones that I've always gone. Yeah, I don't know whether I fancy it or not. It looks too glitzy to to perception. Fake. Yeah. But who's watching your stuff there? I was like, that looks amazing.
00:16:09:04 - 00:16:18:02
Danny
Yeah, I think you can. You can make it cheesy and you make it make it a little bit tacky. But I think if you just embrace what it is and.
00:16:18:03 - 00:16:20:15
Chris
It didn't get married by Elvis. No.
00:16:20:17 - 00:16:23:12
Danny
No, it's going to be a ten year anniversary. So yeah, it's.
00:16:23:15 - 00:16:27:07
Unknown
About getting there.
00:16:27:09 - 00:16:31:19
Chris
We could have all what? That because I got the webcam and we could have all. What?
00:16:31:21 - 00:16:35:15
Unknown
What is it exactly? That's a fun.
00:16:35:18 - 00:16:42:07
Danny
Yeah, you can do it if you embrace it. And it's like a big out of adults playground more than anything from that. But.
00:16:42:07 - 00:16:48:17
Chris
I've always worried as well is that I don't I'm not. I do like to have a little flutter, but I'm not very successful.
00:16:48:23 - 00:16:49:03
Unknown
Yeah.
00:16:49:06 - 00:17:01:14
Chris
As we discussed about the horse racing previously, I did not have any success that day. And, you know, I'm kind of there going I don't know whether that's what I want to throw money at. Yeah, but you don't have to go and do all of that.
00:17:01:16 - 00:17:13:25
Danny
There's so much more you can see that every hotel has got 2 or 3 different shows on. You can watch the sleigh. Mariah Carey was over there performing a Christmas concert while we were there. Well, in one of the hotels.
00:17:13:25 - 00:17:15:14
Chris
Celine Dion still resonating.
00:17:15:14 - 00:17:31:08
Danny
The one still got a residency there. I think she has December off, but will be back in the new year. Before I think we've seen Britney Spears over there and a few others as well. So it's not all about the gambling is a massive part of it, because every hotel, which that's what it's geared up.
00:17:31:09 - 00:17:35:09
Chris
Yeah. But you could go and do a little bit and then there's plenty of other things. Yeah.
00:17:35:09 - 00:17:50:16
Danny
Every hotel's got a shopping center in it as well. So we spent one afternoon walking round. Yeah. Caesars Palace and shopping. Done a few bits and pieces. So yeah, it's I think it's one of the places you need to go just to experience it for, That's what I got days.
00:17:50:18 - 00:17:58:21
Chris
Yeah. That's what I got from your images. I want to do a whole Ocean's 11 thing, though. That's always me. I'll get. I'll get too tempted to do that. End up not about coming home.
00:17:58:21 - 00:18:05:28
Danny
So I think it's just one of those places. I think you can just go and forget normal life for a few days.
00:18:06:00 - 00:18:11:02
Chris
I would love to go over and watch a boxing match over there. Yeah, they do that big, by the looks of it.
00:18:11:06 - 00:18:20:27
Danny
Yeah, I think a lot of that now going to Saudi Arabia. So I think really UFC was over there a couple of days after we come home. So they change the ice rink into the UFC arena.
00:18:21:03 - 00:18:21:28
Chris
Really. Yeah.
00:18:21:28 - 00:18:24:05
Danny
Within a four day turnaround. Wow.
00:18:24:09 - 00:18:27:17
Chris
So talking of the ice hockey. So you went and watched is it the Vegas.
00:18:27:17 - 00:18:27:27
Danny
Vegas.
00:18:27:27 - 00:18:34:15
Chris
Night nights. Yeah. I've still not done an exact we know that. Yeah. Big hockey fan if you don't know.
00:18:34:15 - 00:18:36:26
Hazel
And I really am jealous of you.
00:18:36:28 - 00:18:40:00
Chris
You're kind of not as bothered about the hockey, are you?
00:18:40:02 - 00:18:43:00
Kimberly
No.
00:18:43:02 - 00:18:44:13
Unknown
We're still working on that.
00:18:44:15 - 00:18:47:27
Kimberly
Question on them. I might get them open a couple of times that. Yeah.
00:18:48:00 - 00:18:48:15
Chris
You will.
00:18:48:15 - 00:18:51:19
Kimberly
You'll feel like I'm getting John around. Yeah. John. Me okay. Yeah.
00:18:51:21 - 00:18:53:24
Chris
We all only went a couple of times at one.
00:18:53:28 - 00:18:56:26
Unknown
Yeah. Was we hooked? Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:57:03 - 00:19:12:02
Chris
Yeah. I'm like really jealous. Really fancy at NHL. And you were, right up in the rafters. I mean, I was in the wonderful looking hospitality bit, but it was still right for the rafters. And I've always thought, oh, it's like watching and it wasn't.
00:19:12:02 - 00:19:29:02
Danny
Was it wasn't. No, I, we were, we were high up with the top tier. But still a great view. Yeah. Behind the goals. You could kind of see the, the plays and how they build up as well. But at all times I think where we're at hockey every week still see the puck is still see it was going on wasn't obstructed or anyway.
00:19:29:04 - 00:19:30:15
Unknown
I wouldn't say but that.
00:19:30:16 - 00:19:33:28
Danny
It's nice to have a little bit of, we had a nice sofa area.
00:19:34:00 - 00:19:34:23
Chris
Talk.
00:19:34:25 - 00:19:38:28
Danny
To us and so forth. So, so yeah, it's a good way to experience.
00:19:38:28 - 00:19:41:07
Chris
Isn't that how you set up the, the office now?
00:19:41:08 - 00:19:46:16
Unknown
Yeah. No. Yeah. Someone see the next week? Just so. Yeah.
00:19:46:18 - 00:19:51:05
Hazel
So, yeah, we got a text message. Anyone doing t says me.
00:19:51:05 - 00:19:52:26
Unknown
Welcome back on stuff happened.
00:19:52:29 - 00:20:06:23
Danny
It was. It was a good experience. That's probably my two highlights from a personal. And then this year from a business perspective I think it's been fairly consistent. Team has been consistent. Harvard Hazel back after maternity was a big thing for us.
00:20:06:28 - 00:20:08:07
Unknown
Yeah.
00:20:08:10 - 00:20:09:27
Danny
And that's a year now that's flown by.
00:20:09:29 - 00:20:10:09
Unknown
Yeah.
00:20:10:09 - 00:20:11:07
Danny
Absolutely flown by.
00:20:11:08 - 00:20:11:24
Unknown
Yeah.
00:20:11:27 - 00:20:19:09
Danny
I know bringing Kim back into the business beginning of the year as well. Definitely flown by.
00:20:19:11 - 00:20:19:20
Unknown
But.
00:20:19:20 - 00:20:31:05
Danny
No it probably feels the most, structured. And we've got a new addition coming in January that's going to be massive for the company as well. Oh wow. So yeah I'm looking forward to 2026 already. Now.
00:20:31:07 - 00:20:48:17
Chris
And and and I mean there has been thinking about it so much for you this year because obviously you've got responsive property management. Is it really going places now. Yeah. The ice hockey ownership is an issue for you, which I know has ups and downs.
00:20:48:21 - 00:20:49:18
Unknown
Yep.
00:20:49:21 - 00:20:56:27
Danny
A few stressful times there with that. But he's mistaken the rink. But all in all, for me it's been a positive. Yeah.
00:20:57:00 - 00:21:04:20
Chris
I still always see that little glint in your eye about it. Yeah. You know, you're playing real life, you know, football manager. You know it's all about good times.
00:21:04:20 - 00:21:24:08
Danny
Yeah. And it's I've probably never knew how much work goes into running the ice hockey team from that. And it's not just, a Saturday and training night. It's a full blown operation seven days a week. And the work that's being put in that probably don't see behind the scenes in a strange way. Yeah, it's a credit to them how far it's come.
00:21:24:10 - 00:21:28:14
Danny
And in a strange way, I think we're only just getting started with it as well. Of course, the three teams.
00:21:28:16 - 00:21:29:05
Chris
Are degree, so.
00:21:29:05 - 00:21:32:01
Danny
It would be quite an interesting couple of years ahead.
00:21:32:03 - 00:21:34:18
Chris
Yeah very very excited about this.
00:21:34:24 - 00:21:45:25
Danny
And Swindon are flying at the moment. Soon the nominees are both flying which is nice but you just got a little blip. But I think they'll be back. They've got a few injuries at the moment but it's put a six win streak together.
00:21:45:27 - 00:21:46:22
Chris
That was amazing.
00:21:46:22 - 00:21:52:13
Danny
Was was brilliant. Forward morale was high. Their crowd too good. So all in all across all three teams.
00:21:52:15 - 00:22:07:02
Chris
Yeah. What was it. They were they were off the bottom of the table despite having something like was it 4 or 6 games in the course of three games and close. Yeah. I mean it's like how is that possible. But yeah amazing. That's a in effect, that's a brand new team because they've been gone for.
00:22:07:05 - 00:22:07:19
Danny
Nearly three.
00:22:07:19 - 00:22:09:06
Chris
Seasons. Seasons.
00:22:09:09 - 00:22:24:26
Danny
So all in all yeah. And they're they're a great bunch of lads down there. And they all look out for each other together. It's been hard the last fortnight with the results, playing three games now and trying to catch up with some of their games, playing three games in a week and last week was tough on them.
00:22:24:26 - 00:22:31:23
Danny
They have some tough games, so they were all going to be shattered. On Monday. But that just regroup and and go again.
00:22:31:28 - 00:22:48:21
Chris
Really exciting. I know that you had a torrid game and the reason why he's playing is not good. But to see 16 year old. Yeah get a good chance they go. Yeah. He, unfortunate baptism of fire. Yeah I see him. But, really excited to see that opportunity for British youngster.
00:22:48:21 - 00:22:57:06
Danny
Yeah. And at 16 to get that exposure and come in and okay. Yeah the result didn't go their way. But it could have been far worse if I wasn't there as well.
00:22:57:07 - 00:22:57:22
Chris
Yeah.
00:22:57:22 - 00:23:02:11
Danny
All in all yeah it's been it's a learning curve but it's all going in the right direction.
00:23:02:15 - 00:23:04:03
Chris
Year nearly year and goal limit.
00:23:04:05 - 00:23:13:23
Unknown
Know you. Oh really I okay you you've been a very.
00:23:13:25 - 00:23:16:28
Chris
So you're not doing this game with players. It's in the Wildcats on the 20 I.
00:23:16:28 - 00:23:18:20
Unknown
Definitely you know we.
00:23:18:20 - 00:23:19:17
Chris
Will see you.
00:23:19:19 - 00:23:20:21
Unknown
Yeah yeah yeah.
00:23:20:23 - 00:23:22:22
Hazel
Might be on the edge with the little one.
00:23:22:24 - 00:23:25:02
Unknown
Oh. You'll use the Midwest excuse I.
00:23:25:02 - 00:23:34:12
Hazel
Like to do you play the skater with the players room? Yeah. They didn't let me last time I just to go, so I just hang around. Yeah.
00:23:34:13 - 00:23:36:25
Unknown
Just be fun. Yeah, you can tell.
00:23:36:25 - 00:23:38:04
Hazel
I want to ask him. Yeah.
00:23:38:06 - 00:23:38:13
Unknown
He's.
00:23:38:17 - 00:23:40:14
Chris
He's the first one. That's one of those penguins.
00:23:40:14 - 00:23:41:27
Unknown
That they wanted.
00:23:41:27 - 00:23:45:28
Danny
To map last year. Trying to get me to take a penguin on. So it's not nothing.
00:23:46:00 - 00:23:46:19
Unknown
Yeah.
00:23:46:21 - 00:23:48:11
Danny
Motown.
00:23:48:13 - 00:23:54:28
Chris
I love doing that. It's really good. Kimberly highlight 2025. Professionally. I'm personally,
00:23:55:00 - 00:24:05:13
Kimberly
Professionally, I think it's building my confidence again. And the business. Yeah. And obviously winning clients. I didn't think I'd probably win. And yeah, I'm getting into rhythm of them.
00:24:05:15 - 00:24:12:13
Chris
That's really encouraging to his. Yeah. Because from our perspective the confidence was already there. But I can understand that. Is that that's.
00:24:12:13 - 00:24:13:12
Kimberly
Yeah it's.
00:24:13:14 - 00:24:14:13
Chris
Something though.
00:24:14:15 - 00:24:24:26
Kimberly
In recruiting you have your ups and downs. I think I've got to a point myself. Oh it's not going to get better. And I think yeah obviously change things around. And obviously had that I can do attitude again.
00:24:24:26 - 00:24:31:00
Chris
Nice. Yeah that's really cool I like that. It's definitely a highlight and I'd like for you to hear that. I would imagine as well.
00:24:31:04 - 00:24:42:10
Danny
Yeah it's not tough and you can have good days and bad days. And I think can go into a bit of, I doubt myself. So yeah, just you do that, you kind of lose focus of your positives.
00:24:42:10 - 00:24:43:16
Unknown
Yeah.
00:24:43:18 - 00:24:50:21
Danny
But yeah, some of the conversations I had recently in the clients that you put on recently, probably six months ago, you probably have thought it was even.
00:24:50:21 - 00:24:51:06
Kimberly
No.
00:24:51:07 - 00:24:52:09
Danny
Great.
00:24:52:12 - 00:24:53:02
Unknown
Yeah.
00:24:53:04 - 00:24:55:07
Danny
That's crazy. We don't know why she's done it, but.
00:24:55:12 - 00:24:57:05
Unknown
Because you.
00:24:57:08 - 00:24:58:01
Chris
Ask no questions.
00:24:58:01 - 00:24:58:15
Unknown
Start over.
00:24:58:16 - 00:25:06:01
Danny
Yes, but. But now. And I think it doesn't take a lot to rebuild that confidence and to get those highs back in it from there.
00:25:06:03 - 00:25:06:20
Unknown
Yeah.
00:25:06:23 - 00:25:10:15
Danny
And I think you're just building a nice little pipeline. Yeah.
00:25:10:17 - 00:25:11:20
Kimberly
Refreshes. Yeah.
00:25:11:27 - 00:25:12:16
Unknown
Yeah.
00:25:12:18 - 00:25:19:12
Chris
I mean I guess that does kind of cover both personal and professional one. Some. But is there anything else that jumps out at you for 25?
00:25:19:18 - 00:25:20:20
Unknown
00:25:20:22 - 00:25:27:05
Kimberly
I suppose it's just the children. And so I also got two teenagers. Obviously that can be a bit of a handful at times, but yeah, it's.
00:25:27:05 - 00:25:30:04
Chris
Just one of them. Is the birthday today? Yes. Same day as mine.
00:25:30:05 - 00:25:30:20
Kimberly
Oh yes it.
00:25:30:20 - 00:25:38:02
Unknown
Is. Yeah, yeah. Happy birthday to them. That it they are you know and I will say that you can kind of the.
00:25:38:04 - 00:25:46:07
Kimberly
Yeah I think person's just still obviously getting that balance with mum life and work life as well. And so did it best to come out. Yeah. Yeah yeah.
00:25:46:09 - 00:25:50:16
Chris
Blessed. Awesome. Oh that sounds really cool. Hazel.
00:25:50:19 - 00:25:51:06
Hazel
Yes.
00:25:51:08 - 00:25:52:23
Chris
2025. Wow.
00:25:52:23 - 00:26:16:06
Hazel
Well, yeah. I'd say personal. Probably my little ones. First birthday. That was really nice. I actually did it in the middle floor of the office, so I decorated the whole thing. It was lovely. So it kind of showed me, you know, that I've got Danny there if if I ever need him for anything, even in my personal life.
00:26:16:08 - 00:26:36:16
Hazel
And then work wise, I think getting through the first year of coming back from it on any at the start, I think it was a little bit how do I do this? Do I just need to be a mum? But yeah, getting through the year and realizing that I can do it and I'm learning even more than I knew before I went on my leave.
00:26:36:16 - 00:26:37:16
Hazel
So.
00:26:37:18 - 00:26:48:13
Chris
See, that's an interesting one. That's now a knowledge that's within responsive personnel and empathy that is now within responsive person. I know that you've both been through that.
00:26:48:19 - 00:26:49:08
Unknown
00:26:49:08 - 00:26:58:16
Chris
And that you came back because you how long were you responsive before you went off on maternity leave?
00:26:58:18 - 00:27:00:09
Hazel
Probably a year and a half. Yeah.
00:27:00:12 - 00:27:00:27
Unknown
Yeah, I.
00:27:01:02 - 00:27:05:12
Danny
Think it was. Yeah. And that was a big learning curve from where you'd been before to where.
00:27:05:17 - 00:27:08:16
Unknown
Yeah. You really. Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:08:19 - 00:27:19:01
Chris
So that, that was, that was a useful thing. But then you took the time off with having too little and. Yeah. And it's interesting to hear that. Yeah. Again on the confidence from is the confidence had gone.
00:27:19:06 - 00:27:20:04
Hazel
Yeah.
00:27:20:06 - 00:27:21:29
Chris
With new challenges thrown in.
00:27:22:01 - 00:27:22:23
Unknown
Yeah I.
00:27:22:23 - 00:27:23:09
Chris
Mean nailed.
00:27:23:09 - 00:27:23:21
Hazel
It I.
00:27:23:21 - 00:27:30:24
Danny
Did I think you do. You kind of get baby brain is true enough. Yeah. When you come back you were still very much mum mindset.
00:27:30:27 - 00:27:31:21
Unknown
And.
00:27:31:24 - 00:27:42:00
Danny
It was all in there. I behave when I was probably more than most people in the business. So yeah, you're on a compliance perspective. But then trying to get it out and not be mum mode and back into work mode. Yeah.
00:27:42:00 - 00:27:47:09
Unknown
Took six weeks or so. No, but.
00:27:47:12 - 00:28:04:25
Danny
But no I think I think for me probably when we done the golf day in April last year, I think that's when it all kind of, I think everyone kind of clicked back into the normal persona. Then I think it was Hazel coming back in January. February came back in February. March. Yeah, I think we needed that little day.
00:28:04:27 - 00:28:05:25
Danny
Not in your office.
00:28:05:25 - 00:28:06:12
Unknown
And yeah.
00:28:06:12 - 00:28:11:06
Danny
Yeah, everyone just kind of clicked back into their own personalities after that.
00:28:11:08 - 00:28:20:29
Chris
Because that was you guys were, were were officially working on that day and it was hard work from the sounds of it. But yeah, in a much more fun at the office break from the norm.
00:28:21:01 - 00:28:21:17
Hazel
It was great.
00:28:21:23 - 00:28:26:16
Kimberly
Oh yeah.
00:28:26:19 - 00:28:33:22
Danny
It was it was a long day and it was a long week leading up to it. But I think resounding success.
00:28:33:22 - 00:28:35:10
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. Due to the above.
00:28:35:10 - 00:28:37:24
Chris
And beyond what I think you thought it was going to be as well. Yeah.
00:28:37:24 - 00:28:59:18
Danny
Could have done any better in a, in a strange way. But it was, it was nice to have everyone in a different location doing different things. But we were still on the phone if needed with clients. I think where we are, a lot of us were out playing golf. The girls were still doing bits and pieces behind the scenes to make sure the clients were happy and candidates were still being looked after, and it didn't stop.
00:28:59:18 - 00:29:16:17
Danny
We just done it in a different location. We've done it with the races a couple of weeks ago, a couple of months ago. Yeah, the evenings we like to have that time away. The focus is still on the business as well. And I think we do we, we spend a lot of time with each other and we have to get on as individuals.
00:29:16:17 - 00:29:22:13
Danny
It's not just work, work, work. I think we all lean on each other for different things outside of the work as well.
00:29:22:15 - 00:29:23:11
Unknown
Yeah.
00:29:23:13 - 00:29:28:12
Chris
It makes sense. And of course, that golf day was with the Swindon Wildcats ice hockey players as well. And they embraced it.
00:29:28:16 - 00:29:29:24
Unknown
Yeah I love that.
00:29:29:27 - 00:29:30:15
Danny
Yeah they.
00:29:30:15 - 00:29:36:03
Chris
Love it. Even better is losing these golf bag into yeah.
00:29:36:05 - 00:29:37:29
Unknown
Why is he running. Oh yeah.
00:29:38:02 - 00:29:40:02
Danny
That's a bit of a mad panic.
00:29:40:05 - 00:29:41:03
Unknown
Yeah I.
00:29:41:03 - 00:29:41:17
Chris
Love it.
00:29:41:19 - 00:29:42:04
Danny
It was good.
00:29:42:09 - 00:29:42:28
Unknown
00:29:43:00 - 00:29:47:08
Chris
I not I got serious FOMO of missing out on that one, so I've got to be there next year.
00:29:47:08 - 00:29:47:27
Unknown
Yeah, for.
00:29:48:00 - 00:29:51:19
Chris
Golf lessons so I can do it. And I think you want me to sort of like, yeah, you're.
00:29:51:19 - 00:29:54:13
Danny
Going to be coming in, I think. And yeah, being a big part of.
00:29:54:18 - 00:29:54:25
Unknown
Some.
00:29:54:29 - 00:29:57:18
Chris
Love it I can't wait genuinely. I got serious. Yeah.
00:29:57:26 - 00:29:59:25
Unknown
Yeah they will.
00:29:59:28 - 00:30:04:07
Chris
So that's that I mean I think that is another highlight of 2025. Yeah.
00:30:04:09 - 00:30:08:11
Danny
Yeah I think for business I think it feels like it was ages ago now. I know, well.
00:30:08:13 - 00:30:16:08
Chris
I'll be honest to say I'd forgotten that it was 25 because from the hockey perspective, that was at the end of last season. Yeah, but I see not. Yeah.
00:30:16:10 - 00:30:17:11
Hazel
Yeah, absolutely.
00:30:17:12 - 00:30:35:28
Danny
But yeah, there has been some there's been some good times in 2025. Yeah. It's been we've had to I say Hazel's little ones birthday was good. I think it was, it was a mad stretch the last 24 hours when we didn't know if it was going to go ahead at the original venue and then kind of decorate the office and the obviously you wouldn't probably know it.
00:30:35:28 - 00:30:36:29
Danny
It was the office in a strange way.
00:30:37:00 - 00:30:37:25
Unknown
And I really.
00:30:37:26 - 00:30:39:00
Hazel
Yeah. Streamers and everything.
00:30:39:01 - 00:30:40:15
Unknown
Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah.
00:30:40:15 - 00:30:51:27
Danny
So it's just it's just one of those things that we all do and like when you're, when you're to come in and say hello and stuff that everyone embraces it. It's not an inconvenience. It's kind of one of those things that we have to just look after each other.
00:30:51:27 - 00:30:55:09
Chris
Well, I mean, you still your daughter is still young as well.
00:30:55:12 - 00:30:56:01
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
00:30:56:01 - 00:31:04:15
Chris
Because there's there's that family vibe not just in the way that you are a family, but you've all got your family. You've got them. Yeah. Understanding, support, love, empathy. Yeah.
00:31:04:15 - 00:31:08:00
Danny
And even it was nice to see them all together a couple of weeks ago at one of the hockey events.
00:31:08:03 - 00:31:08:15
Unknown
Yes.
00:31:08:18 - 00:31:16:27
Danny
Yeah. Nice to see Kim's boys of mine too. And Hazel's AJ it just that they all get on the, the platform when they see someone last week.
00:31:17:00 - 00:31:17:13
Unknown
Yeah.
00:31:17:21 - 00:31:19:00
Danny
I think go to Leicester.
00:31:19:01 - 00:31:26:21
Hazel
She took me there to go see Sonia at the hockey. So some ice cream man. Really? Yeah. Sorry, Eve. We'll try next year.
00:31:26:23 - 00:31:29:04
Unknown
Oh, Lewis.
00:31:29:06 - 00:31:31:02
Hazel
If you got two bags of sweets, though, she.
00:31:31:05 - 00:31:35:14
Unknown
Got a little. However, is this one nice?
00:31:35:16 - 00:31:41:17
Chris
Oh, yeah. I mean, I guess that's what happens when you hear stories. They break into. He breaks into.
00:31:41:17 - 00:31:46:03
Unknown
Houses. Yeah. Be no.
00:31:46:06 - 00:31:48:20
Chris
And there's a song that says I saw Santa kissing mummy.
00:31:48:20 - 00:31:53:09
Unknown
Yeah.
00:31:53:12 - 00:31:59:04
Chris
Before I do 20, 26, a quick thing. What's the festive period looked like for you?
00:31:59:06 - 00:32:02:11
Unknown
It's going to be blurry. It'll be.
00:32:02:17 - 00:32:19:05
Danny
Nice to have a couple of days away from the office. I think we're probably have. I think we've Christmas on the Thursday. I think you should probably say goodbye to Jeff on the 23rd. Come back in 2019. I think it is for a few days. We can get a lot done. I think it's a really good time to plan.
00:32:19:07 - 00:32:37:07
Danny
We're bringing the new operations manager in that starts in January, so she's gonna pop in as well. Spend some time with the team? Oh, I start to put some plans in place so we can get a lot done between Christmas and New Year. And I think in a strange way, it's nice to get away from the family for.
00:32:37:09 - 00:32:38:15
Unknown
A couple of hours each time.
00:32:38:18 - 00:32:39:03
Chris
They say, yes.
00:32:39:03 - 00:32:42:14
Unknown
I think, I know I think.
00:32:42:16 - 00:32:51:17
Danny
This as soon as we can kind of click back into what might a little bit, it puts us that little step further than others at times. But we try and have as much downtime as possible.
00:32:51:19 - 00:32:53:14
Chris
To celebrate New Year, but.
00:32:53:16 - 00:32:56:15
Danny
No, too old for that now. So for that, what do you.
00:32:56:15 - 00:32:59:10
Chris
Find that is like an anti-climax? These days? Yeah, it is now.
00:32:59:10 - 00:33:02:26
Kimberly
Yeah yeah, yeah. Have you got any plans?
00:33:02:29 - 00:33:10:05
Chris
I've got my, who's coming up? My parents for the Christmas days, if you will.
00:33:10:05 - 00:33:10:13
Unknown
Yeah.
00:33:10:20 - 00:33:30:27
Chris
That may disappear boxing Day, and then it's a tag team because the in-laws are coming in for the night. I'm doing Christmas dinner this year, so we're hosting this, which is wicked. I love it. That's, those tradition is that. Yeah. We cooked the Christmas dinner. Yeah. And then New Year, we go around some friends house and it's, like, dressed to impress.
00:33:30:27 - 00:33:31:28
Chris
Like, I'll be in my tux.
00:33:32:03 - 00:33:35:06
Kimberly
Oh. That's nice. Yeah.
00:33:35:08 - 00:33:37:05
Chris
And it's going to hurt the next day.
00:33:37:07 - 00:33:38:17
Unknown
Oh, doubt.
00:33:38:20 - 00:33:40:25
Danny
I'm gay in the game. Yeah. So it's.
00:33:41:02 - 00:33:42:19
Chris
An early face off as early.
00:33:42:21 - 00:33:44:22
Danny
For 4:00, I think. Yeah.
00:33:44:24 - 00:33:46:17
Chris
That's about enough time to have.
00:33:46:18 - 00:33:47:10
Unknown
You right.
00:33:47:11 - 00:33:47:19
Chris
Baby?
00:33:47:20 - 00:33:53:00
Unknown
Sam just got back on it. Just get back. You're really bad. No, I.
00:33:53:00 - 00:33:54:27
Hazel
Think I saw you hung over. You had duty.
00:33:54:27 - 00:33:58:27
Unknown
Up. Oh, you just did. Yeah. So the as you walk with him. Yeah. Yeah.
00:33:58:29 - 00:34:02:05
Chris
Absolutely. They'll know. Still making those two point. Yeah.
00:34:02:07 - 00:34:09:09
Unknown
Look like I so I don't want to that everyone loves hate. What a. Oh okay.
00:34:09:11 - 00:34:13:20
Chris
But they always laugh because they see my hand and I make you two point I look like a 1.5.
00:34:13:20 - 00:34:15:24
Unknown
Right. You're,
00:34:15:27 - 00:34:18:05
Chris
And it goes as quick as at one point. And that's the.
00:34:18:08 - 00:34:20:28
Danny
Thing. Yeah. Carry on drinking.
00:34:21:00 - 00:34:24:06
Chris
It is good fun. What about you? Obviously is with the kids for Christmas.
00:34:24:07 - 00:34:31:12
Kimberly
I've got them. Christmas. I'm doing dinner, I always do. Oh, yeah. And then I've got plans for you. Yeah. We'll just see what happens.
00:34:31:15 - 00:34:37:27
Chris
I normally don't plan. And. Yeah. Between Christmas and New Year. Oh, yeah. It's new year. We better plan some, but I'm plan with it.
00:34:38:00 - 00:34:45:21
Kimberly
Yeah, there's no point going out or anything. But a couple of friends to. Yeah. Spend some time with children and mother as well.
00:34:45:23 - 00:34:51:24
Chris
Do you, do you do the, the emotional thing when it can you. It's been a real tough year or a great.
00:34:51:24 - 00:34:53:12
Unknown
Year and I'm going to change. No.
00:34:53:15 - 00:34:54:21
Kimberly
I'm like oh.
00:34:54:24 - 00:35:00:27
Unknown
They say yes. Oh do I say do you I mean yeah, it's like I know that for five years.
00:35:01:04 - 00:35:10:02
Kimberly
You I'm saving for a new year. And when you get to Texas in there. Yeah. And you should not be able to send him night. But now. Yeah. Things have changed just a smidge.
00:35:10:06 - 00:35:14:29
Chris
But not everybody still forgets that, though. And I still get it. I'm getting them going in advance.
00:35:15:03 - 00:35:16:17
Unknown
Yeah, yeah I do.
00:35:16:23 - 00:35:18:03
Chris
That's because I'm worried they'll be able to see.
00:35:18:03 - 00:35:18:24
Kimberly
No I'm not.
00:35:18:25 - 00:35:22:02
Danny
Yeah I guess about 10:00 every. Yeah I think oh I try to stay away. Yeah.
00:35:22:02 - 00:35:22:15
Kimberly
Then you don't.
00:35:22:16 - 00:35:25:14
Hazel
Yeah. And then I just sit and watch TV or something because everybody.
00:35:25:16 - 00:35:28:05
Chris
But there's only so much Jools Holland you can watch.
00:35:28:12 - 00:35:29:13
Unknown
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:29:20 - 00:35:34:15
Danny
And you get woke up with the fireworks everywhere. Yeah, yeah. And then, you know, it's time to work with the I.
00:35:34:15 - 00:35:58:00
Chris
What I do love is, we'll have the TV on, but I don't know what program it is, but it will be one that probably gets our attention with some stars singing or whatever it might be. Yeah, but then they show the build up outside, like Big Ben and all that lot, and then it'll be like, right, quickly run out and see the fireworks going off locally, then back in and it's still going on around Big Bend.
00:35:58:00 - 00:35:58:24
Unknown
And did it.
00:35:58:26 - 00:36:03:04
Kimberly
Last, what, the Big Bend lights did they do the fireworks?
00:36:03:04 - 00:36:03:27
Unknown
Probably.
00:36:03:27 - 00:36:05:09
Chris
Yeah, I do like drones.
00:36:05:12 - 00:36:06:18
Danny
I was one, yeah. Because of the weather.
00:36:06:21 - 00:36:08:20
Unknown
Oh yeah. Oh well.
00:36:08:22 - 00:36:09:20
Kimberly
It was actually.
00:36:09:20 - 00:36:11:05
Chris
Before maybe merges into.
00:36:11:05 - 00:36:12:12
Kimberly
One from. Yeah I know it does.
00:36:12:17 - 00:36:22:16
Chris
But they do like drone shows and things like that. I don't know, which is really amazing. I do love seeing all of that bit. And then everyone's like back to the monopoly.
00:36:22:18 - 00:36:25:00
Unknown
That that was a good World.
00:36:25:00 - 00:36:25:28
Chris
War three. Here we.
00:36:25:28 - 00:36:27:17
Unknown
Go.
00:36:27:19 - 00:36:29:27
Chris
What about you guys? What you got planned?
00:36:30:00 - 00:36:38:12
Hazel
Christmas. I'm at my partner's parents. And then new. Yeah, I've got some friends come around, so. Yeah. Yeah.
00:36:38:14 - 00:36:39:27
Chris
So you were hosting a party for.
00:36:40:03 - 00:36:41:15
Unknown
Me, so. Yeah. Oh, I think.
00:36:41:15 - 00:36:42:08
Danny
That the invite.
00:36:42:11 - 00:36:43:21
Kimberly
I know.
00:36:43:24 - 00:36:48:08
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah, I still think that wouldn't even it.
00:36:48:10 - 00:36:49:08
Chris
Oh, you have got a no here.
00:36:49:08 - 00:36:51:25
Unknown
Don't get. Yeah. They're not.
00:36:51:25 - 00:36:54:17
Hazel
Invited. Yeah.
00:36:54:19 - 00:36:56:18
Chris
Yeah. You know you did here. They have got no plan.
00:36:56:22 - 00:37:01:12
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah.
00:37:01:15 - 00:37:14:06
Chris
Fair play. Right 2026. Danny both if there's anything personal, to to say looking forward to. But obviously from the business, anything on the horizon. I mean, you've already mentioned the new ops manager.
00:37:14:09 - 00:37:15:27
Unknown
Yeah, we're bringing Imogen in.
00:37:15:27 - 00:37:43:29
Danny
Who's been in recruitment for ten years, knows it, been a regional manager the last couple of years. So quite a big step forward for what we want to do as a business. And I think she worked really well with the team day to day. For a little bit of my time up. I think if we can cement the early part of the year, then we may look at us in a second, possibly a third branch as well, in locations that are fairly buoyant at the moment.
00:37:44:02 - 00:37:59:03
Danny
It's the Basingstoke probably being one of them. We've done a little bit of groundwork there already. Make sense that I'm there quite a bit as well. So it's adding another person into that mix. The back office Hazel pick up from Swindon.
00:37:59:05 - 00:37:59:27
Chris
Still centrally.
00:37:59:27 - 00:38:10:16
Danny
So yeah, it's just centralized that the admin and the payroll and the compliance. But if we have a consultant, probably Basingstoke, and then another location.
00:38:10:18 - 00:38:13:19
Chris
To begin with. Oh no no, no, it's okay.
00:38:13:19 - 00:38:15:12
Unknown
It's for us. It would be the.
00:38:15:12 - 00:38:37:12
Danny
Ideal scenario, but distance wise is what, 3 or 4 hours drive. And I think it's a bit of a saturated market up there, but really it will go north. But it won't be as far as Leeds. Okay. So, yeah, but for me, yeah, we can if we can really target the first quarter of 2026 and then probably eight full time will occur in the office invasion.
00:38:37:12 - 00:38:57:08
Danny
So. Wow. Which be a big thing for us. And a big learning curve I think, as well. But based though it is a point market at the moment. So there's a lot of regeneration there. There's a lot of stuff happening in and around that kind of region as well. So if we can be part of that then, then we good to be be there rather not be there.
00:38:57:13 - 00:39:00:00
Danny
Absolutely. In a strange way, and the.
00:39:00:00 - 00:39:05:28
Chris
Lessons that you've learned from here. Yeah. Surely that means that that you.
00:39:06:04 - 00:39:06:14
Unknown
Yeah.
00:39:06:17 - 00:39:11:05
Chris
Branch is going to be further along the ladder than than when you start here.
00:39:11:07 - 00:39:32:02
Danny
We've got the infrastructure there to be able to go and do it. It's not like we're reinventing anything. It's just finding the right person with the local contacts. Knows the area, probably has some relationships already. And then we can support that person to go and develop it. All of us are quite willing to put down for an afternoon or a day a week.
00:39:32:02 - 00:39:40:05
Danny
From there. I think Hays will be part of a training program for that kind of region as well. Kim's down there on a regular basis at the moment anyway, so between.
00:39:40:05 - 00:39:41:09
Chris
74.
00:39:41:09 - 00:39:41:22
Unknown
And the.
00:39:41:24 - 00:39:50:20
Danny
Yeah, it's about it's an hour drive away. For me, I get more done in the car on that. I would drive in the office. It's always, it's not the best friends I.
00:39:50:20 - 00:39:53:21
Chris
Hasten to add to the footage. He's not driving at this point.
00:39:53:21 - 00:39:56:23
Unknown
Yeah, but, you know, kind of. Yeah, I know.
00:39:56:25 - 00:40:14:05
Danny
He's done phone calls and stuff. Just the focus is not on the office day to day. It's just nice to pick up the phone. Someone have a conversation, see what you got going on? From there. So, yeah, for me, it's an exciting year and one that could see up we go in a bit of a different direction as well.
00:40:14:06 - 00:40:15:11
Danny
00:40:16:27 - 00:40:18:00
Unknown
Yeah.
00:40:18:02 - 00:40:21:11
Chris
There isn't, there's an episode to find that. Yeah.
00:40:21:13 - 00:40:22:01
Unknown
Yeah.
00:40:22:04 - 00:40:24:09
Chris
Can we do a big reveal.
00:40:24:11 - 00:40:49:07
Danny
Yeah. When I know what it is I let it like it. So it feels like we're, we're close to something bigger and better as well. Wow. So yeah and obviously with a property management company that could be huge again going into 2026. That's that's really exciting. And I think with with David heading that up and imaging coming into responsive personnel, it gives me time to look at things as a whole, as a group, what we want to try and.
00:40:49:07 - 00:40:50:26
Chris
Pay for format rather than it.
00:40:51:02 - 00:41:04:27
Danny
Yeah. At the moment, as much as I am upstairs and out the way, a lot of my time is still spent looking at things where responsive. If I look at as the group and the property and the recruitment, then it's an exciting period for all of us.
00:41:05:04 - 00:41:09:27
Chris
I like, by the way, the responsive property management logo. I only noticed the key the other day.
00:41:09:27 - 00:41:10:15
Kimberly
Yeah.
00:41:10:17 - 00:41:12:10
Chris
We missed it completely probably.
00:41:12:10 - 00:41:13:09
Danny
About six months ago.
00:41:13:12 - 00:41:13:29
Chris
Was it really?
00:41:13:29 - 00:41:30:25
Danny
Yeah. Someone said to me, why would you not put like the PE instructor key silhouette on my Mr.. Yeah, but it is one of those things that when you notice it, you can't unsee it in a strange way. So yeah, that was just a little change. Yeah. Probably in the summer. Yeah. Strange. Right.
00:41:30:27 - 00:41:38:21
Chris
Like it. Yeah. That sounds good. And that that's got to be kind of encouraging for you both to, to hear that sort of talk as well.
00:41:38:27 - 00:41:50:18
Hazel
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I think it's very exciting time. And like I said, with the imaging coming in and her knowledge, I'm quite excited to see what she can bring to the table and what little changes she's going to make. And. Yeah.
00:41:50:21 - 00:41:53:09
Kimberly
Yeah. And how what direction would take us. Yeah.
00:41:53:12 - 00:41:53:22
Unknown
00:41:53:27 - 00:41:56:23
Chris
Absolutely. Yeah. That operational. So it'll be.
00:41:56:23 - 00:41:58:13
Kimberly
Interesting. Yeah. Yeah.
00:41:58:15 - 00:42:00:15
Chris
Good luck on embracing change as well.
00:42:00:15 - 00:42:01:15
Hazel
Always.
00:42:01:17 - 00:42:02:27
Unknown
Yeah that's.
00:42:02:27 - 00:42:03:19
Hazel
Amazing.
00:42:03:21 - 00:42:05:03
Unknown
It's all good.
00:42:05:05 - 00:42:06:15
Danny
Imaging come in this way.
00:42:06:21 - 00:42:08:03
Kimberly
Yeah.
00:42:08:05 - 00:42:19:19
Danny
Yeah. It's it's like in I'm going to be catchment for next week over week of Christmas as well. Let's put some plans together for the group. Really. Yeah. So yeah. And it's a it's an exciting time for.
00:42:19:22 - 00:42:35:17
Chris
You kind of fall into that I mean it's for any business I can relate to it myself is that you kind of go, well we've got to get X, Y and Z done. And we're like, let's do it that way. And it just happens. But for someone who's specialty is the operations, things are and say, right, I see what you're trying to do there, but actually we do it this way.
00:42:35:17 - 00:42:39:27
Chris
You go cool. I didn't know the best way to do this. We just had to get it done.
00:42:39:27 - 00:42:41:05
Unknown
Yeah, yeah.
00:42:41:07 - 00:42:46:26
Chris
Yeah. So that's that's really exciting. So cool. Yeah. Kimberley. 2026. What?
00:42:46:28 - 00:42:58:01
Kimberly
Look. No. I'm excited Jen, obviously I've been mentioned coming in. I want to see myself get bigger and better. So be nice to obviously learn new things as well from someone new. Let's hope they had that experience.
00:42:58:04 - 00:42:58:19
Chris
Okay.
00:42:58:20 - 00:43:01:09
Kimberly
Yeah. That's cool. So I'm excited for.
00:43:01:11 - 00:43:01:24
Chris
I like what's.
00:43:01:28 - 00:43:03:12
Kimberly
Going well. We're going big.
00:43:03:14 - 00:43:03:21
Unknown
Yeah.
00:43:03:23 - 00:43:05:28
Chris
Well yeah I'm. That's really good.
00:43:05:29 - 00:43:06:06
Kimberly
Shit.
00:43:06:07 - 00:43:09:10
Unknown
Yeah yeah yeah, I think so.
00:43:09:12 - 00:43:26:20
Hazel
I think probably with, Imogen coming in and helping me maybe make processes a little bit easier, a little bit smoother, then getting more workload done and potentially then being helping with Kim going out to in sales. Yes. So I get my toes slightly. Yeah. She do that a little bit more would be great.
00:43:26:21 - 00:43:29:14
Unknown
Are you really. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
00:43:29:18 - 00:43:32:15
Danny
Hazel would never admit that. She's quite likes going out and saying.
00:43:32:15 - 00:43:34:03
Unknown
But yeah, I can believe that.
00:43:34:03 - 00:43:42:22
Chris
Definitely, because you're very much a people person. Yes. And I'm really impressed to hear you sort of embracing that. That's because there's a real Marmite with the sales role, isn't there?
00:43:42:23 - 00:43:47:09
Kimberly
Yeah, I prefer to go out there and it's nice going out with Hazel as well and bounce off each other.
00:43:47:12 - 00:43:48:00
Chris
I can imagine.
00:43:48:00 - 00:43:51:20
Unknown
Yeah, I can.
00:43:51:22 - 00:43:55:18
Unknown
Go. Yeah.
00:43:55:21 - 00:44:13:00
Chris
But no, I get that. And it's really cool that you're embracing that. And yeah, I guess that when you've got someone doing the operation or that like you're trying to remove some of the bits from using, focus on these, removing some of those bits that shouldn't really be in your image. Yeah. But, yeah, it frees you up to do this.
00:44:13:03 - 00:44:14:11
Unknown
Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
00:44:14:13 - 00:44:28:20
Danny
I think for me, I still feel guilty if I'm not in the office or even when I was away. I can still touch base. And I kind of want to say good morning at the same time as everyone else is getting up and have an image in there that can take that day to day responsibility away from me.
00:44:28:23 - 00:44:47:25
Danny
And it is I think recruitment hasn't changed massively. And since I've been doing it for 15, 20 years, but having a different pair of eyes on it, that's worked with other companies and it's probably done some different training and probably some procedures are a little bit different. But the fundamentals won't change. Payroll will still be the same deadlines.
00:44:47:28 - 00:45:06:29
Danny
That doesn't change from agency to agency. The service level that we want to deliver won't change. If I think it could improve, having an extra person that has been used to doing it. She's been in logistics and manufacturing and industrial market. So her phone 24 seven as well. So having someone that understands it and has done it will be a big thing.
00:45:06:29 - 00:45:27:29
Danny
So I think she will add value to everyone's job, both short term and long term from that. And I think it's bringing a big name that's known in this when they're into it will make a few other people sit up and take notice of what we are doing, even though we're doing all right now. I think it's just scratching the surface a little bit.
00:45:27:29 - 00:45:35:23
Chris
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, I can believe that as well. Well, guys, I think that wraps up everything. Think we were going to touch on this year.
00:45:35:25 - 00:45:37:27
Unknown
Yeah.
00:45:38:00 - 00:45:40:09
Chris
Have a wonderful Christmas sunshine.
00:45:40:12 - 00:45:41:20
Danny
Have a good birthday. First of all.
00:45:41:23 - 00:45:43:14
Unknown
Thank you. Yeah.
00:45:43:16 - 00:46:00:06
Chris
I don't plan on working all of my birthday, so we'll see how that goes. But this isn't work. This is fun. That we get to have a chat about things. Congratulations on your 2025. Really, really exciting. Welcome back from your maternity leave in a brilliant year. And look forward to 26. Welcome back to.
00:46:00:07 - 00:46:01:26
Unknown
Oh, yeah.
00:46:01:28 - 00:46:23:24
Chris
I'm really embracing the those new clients and all of that sort of stuff. Keep it going and get in touch with Kendra and the team to even just to explore that. That's my advice. Even if you're not sure is get in touch and find out. Planning advance is good, but you're still responsive, personal as well, so that, you know, you are in control right up to those 11th hour things that might be needed.
00:46:23:28 - 00:46:44:14
Chris
Yeah. Best of luck with all of the changes that you know of and don't know of yet. Have it well done out. Yeah. Well done on the evolution. Look forward to the golf day. Yep. But have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year. And obviously we echo all of that to everybody watching. Thank you for joining us for these episodes so far.
00:46:44:20 - 00:46:47:12
Chris
And we look forward to seeing you in 2026. Chisel.